Programme updates: Departments of Rural Development & Land Reform, and Agriculture

NCOP Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy

07 February 2011
Chairperson: Ms A Qikani (ANC, Eastern Cape)
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Meeting Summary

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries presented the achievements and progress of selected programmes, that had been mentioned in their Annual Reports 2009/10, to the Committee.

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform discussed the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) and the National Rural Youth Services Corps (NARYSEC) programmes. The CRDP was launched in August 2009 and aimed to create “vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities”. Phase 1, meeting basic human needs, had been completed and the Department would now move to Phase 2, Enterprise Development and Phase 3, village industries and access to credit. NARYSEC targeted the youth in rural wards, employing four youths (including one disabled) in each ward, and training them in various skills aimed at helping them to change their home areas. The numbers of participants in NARYSEC, and the achievements under CASP in each province were outlined. These included library and community centres, various types of agricultural projects, provision of water, including the sinking of boreholes and provision of pipelines, household gardens, sports field upgrades, building of clinics, installation of solar panels and completion of access roads. The main outstanding tasks included institutionalising the CRDP, achieving co-ordination across all spheres of government; and moving from Phase 1 to Phase 2. It was noted that pilot projects assisted in enhancing the current policy process, identified where further guidelines and clarity on roles were needed. The DRDLR intended to establish a presence in every rural municipality by 2014, to implement job creation in all wards, across all programmes and to continue to act as a catalyst, coordinator, initiator, facilitator and implementer. Members questioned whether the DRDLR funded all the projects itself or was assisted by Department of Human Settlements, noted that no mention was made of Gauteng achievements and challenges, questioned why expenditure was put on hold and the payment challenges with NARYSEC. They also asked when backyard food garden projects would be rolled out to the rest of the country, whether the Department had a completed land survey, and whether funds would be rolled over to the next financial year. They questioned the plans for placement of new recruits and the payment challenges, as well as training in the Western Cape. Members also asked what impact the activities of the Department had on the lives of the people where the CRDP projects were piloted, and whether the Department collaborated with provincial and local officials when rolling out the projects. Answers should be submitted in writing

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) discussed the budget and spending under Programmes 2 and 3, for 2009/10, and set out the specific achievements under Programme 2: Production and Resource Management, giving the figures for each of the projects. Members asked what strategies the Department had in place to overcome its challenges, what measures were being put in place to create permanent work for recruits, and why certain funds had been withheld from communities. They asked for clarity on irrigation projects in the Free State that seemed to have stopped, lack of extension services to various projects in Kwa-Kwa and questioned how many project officers were allocated to each province and how the Department planned to monitor the projects. Once again, answers were requested in writing.

Meeting report

Project update: Department of Rural Development and Land Reform
Dr Moshe Swartz, Acting Director General, Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, referred to the Annual Report of that Department (also known as DRDLR), and said that he would highlight the progress to date on selected programmes, namely the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP, the National Rural Youth Services Corps (NARYSEC) programme, and then provide highlights of achievements and key tasks outstanding, including the pilot programmes used to enhance the current policy processes.

The CRDP was launched in August 2009 and aimed to create “vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities”. It was divided into three phases. Phase 1 dealt with meeting basic human needs, Phase 2 dealt with Enterprise Development and Phase 3 dealt with village industries and access to credit facilities.

NARYSEC was a programme that targeted the youth in the rural wards of South Africa. In each ward, four young people (including one disabled) would be employed for a period of two years. Skills development included training on discipline, patriotism, life skills, rights awareness and specific skills areas that would empower the youth to change their home rural areas. He outlined the numbers of NARYSEC participants in each province as Limpopo – 1328; Mpumalanga – 1065; Gauteng – 1062; KwaZulu-Natal – 0; North West – 956; Free State – 358; Western Cape – 720; Northern Cape – 843; and Eastern Cape – 1500. He then detailed the achievements to date: 10 085 jobs were created, 3 081 hectares were planted, 736 people were trained, 159 co-operatives were established, 980 houses were built, 478 rain water harvesting tanks were installed in Muyexe, 360 kilometres of fencing were provided and 47 village viewing areas were established for the 2010 Football World Cup.

There were various projects taking place in all the provinces. In Limpopo, a library and Thusong Centre was in the planning stage. In Muyexe the projects involved agriculture, grazing and Gabion fencing between the Kruger National Park and the community grazing lands, provision of water at communal drinking points, and internal water reticulation, and agricultural infrastructure by construction of poultry houses, a reservoir and drinking troughs. Completed projects in Limpopo included 478 water harvesting tanks, the de-bushing of fallow land, and establishment of 300 household gardens. Current projects in the Northern Cape included, in Riemvasmaak, 37 km of water pipeline. 300 additional household gardens were being established. Completed projects in the Northern Cape included completion of 128 houses, a sports field upgrade and a Tourism Study and Implementation Plan. Current projects in Mpumalanga included the building of houses and a mobile clinic, and agricultural infrastructure being set up. Completed projects in Mpumalanga included installation of 30 solar panels, grading of internal roads; and building of 100 backyard gardens. Current projects in the Free State included a milking parlour at Diyatalawa and a sports complex and recreation centre in Jacobsdal. Completed projects in the Free State included planting of 418 hectares of wheat, training of 63 young people, completion of an access road of 3.2 km, and building of 37 houses. Current projects in the Eastern Cape included fencing and an agri-park at Mhlontlo and fencing, a bridge and roads at Mvezo. Completed projects in the Eastern Cape included training of 10 young people, establishment of 158 household gardens, agricultural input and registration of 10 co-operatives. Current projects in the Western Cape included paving of an industrial park in Dysselsdorp and a walkway and recreation area under construction in Witzenberg. Completed projects included provision of rain water and harvesting tanks, starter packs handed to indigent households, village viewing equipment being utilised by schools, Phase 1 of a clinic garden and training of 24 young people. Current projects in KwaZulu-Natal included fencing, agricultural projects, electrification; and water projects in Msinga, Vryheid and Nkandla. Completed projects included: irrigation, various fencing projects, provision of a crèche, tractor and farm implements, and 141 young people were trained. Current projects in the North West included building of houses, six livestock handling facilities, 30 high mast lights, fencing, and a road project. Completed projects included 300 housing units, 99 toilets and 62 km of fencing. 

Dr Swartz noted that the key tasks outstanding included institutionalising the CRDP, achieving co-ordination across all spheres of government; and moving from Phase 1 to Phase 2 (sustainable enterprise development). Pilot projects assisted in enhancing the current policy process and the draft CRDP policy in the areas of youth employment (which then also influenced the NARYSEC intervention). They also showed the need for clear institutional guidelines on roles and responsibilities. They allowed for moves from village to ward level, and highlighted the need for alignment of the CRDP with the delivery agreement.

Dr Swartz concluded that between now and 2014, the DRDLR intended to establish a presence in every rural municipality in the country. The job creation model was to be implemented in all wards across all programmes in the Department. NARYSEC programmes were currently being implemented in eight of the nine provinces. The Department was currently aligning the CRDP to the current delivery agreement process. In all areas, the Department would continue to play the role of a catalyst, coordinator, initiator, facilitator and implementer.

Discussion
Ms B Mabe (ANC, Gauteng) asked whether the DRDLR funded all the projects fully, or whether the Department of Human Settlements assisted the Department with funding. She noted that in this presentation no mention was made of the challenges and achievements in Gauteng. She also asked if the Department was planning to role out the backyard food garden project to the rest of the country.

Mr M Makhubela (COPE, Limpopo) asked why expenditure was put on hold, and what kinds of payment challenges existed with the NARYSEC programme.

Mr D Worth (DA, Free State) wanted to know whether the Department had a completed land survey.

Mr O De Beer (COPE, Western Cape) asked whether there would be a roll-over of funds into the next financial year, because of the under-spending resulting from the court orders. He also asked if the Department had a plan to place new recruits once they were fully trained. He further asked for comment on the payment challenges around these new recruits.

Ms N Magadla (ANC, KZN) wanted to know what the problem with NARYSEC was. She also asked for more clarity on the consequences of under and over spending by provinces. She further called for comment on certain training that apparently only took place in the Western Cape.

The Chairperson asked what impact the activities of the Department had on the lives of the people where the CRDP projects were piloted, and whether the Department collaborated with provincial and local officials when rolling out the projects.

The Chairperson suggested that the Department respond in writing to the Members’ questions, within one week.

Production and resource Management Programme: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Mr Jacob Hlatshwayo, Chief Financial Officer, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, gave a presentation on the Production and Resource Management Programme of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF or the Department) for 2009/10. He set out the spending, noting that in total the DAFF had managed to spend 99.3% of budget for this programme. He tabled the percentage spend for each of the categories of compensation of employees, goods and services, financial transactions for assets and liabilities, and capital assets. (See attached presentation for details). He then set out a table of the transfer payments to Letsema, Landcare and Food Bank SA, which respectively amounted to 100%, 97.4% and 100% spending of the R50 million budget.

Mr Hlatshwayo then moved to detail the spending on Programme 3, Agricultural Support Services, noting that a total of 99.8% of budget was spent, and presenting the figures for the individual categories. In respect of this programme, he then set out the transfer payments as 96;8% spending on Comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme (CASP), 100% spending on Agri disasters, and 100% spending on Land Bank.

Dr Kabi Mogajane, Deputy Director General: Production and Resources, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, presented on Programme 2 in more detail. The total expenditure increased at an annual average rate of 13,7 % from 2006/07 to 2009/10, mainly as a result of a once –off allocation  of R221 million for the Ilima/ Letsema projects. These had been intended to improve agricultural production. There was also an amount of R76 million spent on starter packs in the 2008/09 financial year.

Programme 2 achievements were then described. The Tilapia Catfish Cage Culture Project was completed, an Animal Breeding Support Programme was established to train young emergent farmers, and 61 unique agricultural zones for Gauteng were identified. 14 042 beneficiaries on 748 compliant farms had adopted sustainable technologies on LandCare projects and land reform farms. A total of 129 boreholes were drilled across the country, of which 95 had adequate water but 34 were dry. Authorizations to import 868 283 poultry, for import of 1 462 596 doses of semen, 549 embryos and 4 849 animals were also issued during the year. A Fruit Production Support Scheme was piloted in the Vhembe district of Limpopo, in which 50 farmers participated, and they were assisted to establish close to 200 hectares of fruit orchards. 40 beef and 40 goat farmers had been supported as new entrants in animal improvement schemes. Over 2 000 export certificates were issued to seed companies that exported to various countries across the world. The bulk of these were destined for Africa.

Discussion  
Mr M Makhubela asked what strategies the Department had in place to overcome its challenges.

Mr O De Beer asked what measures the Department was putting in place to create permanent work for recruits. He also asked why the Department withheld certain funds from communities.

Mr D Worth wanted the Department to give clarity on irrigation projects in the Free State that seemed to have stopped.

The Chairperson commented that that there was a lack of extension services to various projects in Kwa-Kwa, and wanted to know how many project officers were allocated to each province. She also enquired how the Department intended to monitor these projects.

The Chairperson asked the Department to respond in writing to the Members’ questions by the end of the week.

The meeting was adjourned.


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